PRAYER MATTERS
Psalm 34.18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
John 10.10b {Jesus} came that {we} may have life and have it abundantly.
Christmas and holiday season can be extremely difficult for some. People are battling depression, others mourning the absence of a loved one, there are broken families, broken relationships, and of course, so many are strapped financially…the list goes on.
Where does reconciliation fit in this time of year? How important is it to know how God sees us? Two questions that could be of great importance when relieving the stresses and extreme hurts that are intensified in this season.
Recent teachings by Pastor Gregory and a speaker I follow, Megan Fate, reminded me that reconciliation begins with me (you!) as we agree with God’s verdict about ourselves. He is faithful to those who confess their sins to Him. When we open our heart to the Lord, we can receive what He has for us – forgiveness, hope, love, peace, joy… we belong, we are chosen.
Reconciliation brings us closer to God. We turn towards him, choosing to humble ourselves and receive His goodness. Our depression, our grief, our trials, our pain don’t define us. Those lies disappear when we (re)claim the truth that Jesus took care of that on the cross.
As we pray through this week’s letter, we may sense a need for reconciliation. Or maybe we will read something that prompts our prayers for that person to know their identity in the Lord – who He created them to be. Thank you for choosing to intercede, thank you for listening to the Holy Spirit. He will guide us.
Praying for an increase of joy!
Ericka
Psalm 34.18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
John 10.10b {Jesus} came that {we} may have life and have it abundantly.
Christmas and holiday season can be extremely difficult for some. People are battling depression, others mourning the absence of a loved one, there are broken families, broken relationships, and of course, so many are strapped financially…the list goes on.
Where does reconciliation fit in this time of year? How important is it to know how God sees us? Two questions that could be of great importance when relieving the stresses and extreme hurts that are intensified in this season.
Recent teachings by Pastor Gregory and a speaker I follow, Megan Fate, reminded me that reconciliation begins with me (you!) as we agree with God’s verdict about ourselves. He is faithful to those who confess their sins to Him. When we open our heart to the Lord, we can receive what He has for us – forgiveness, hope, love, peace, joy… we belong, we are chosen.
Reconciliation brings us closer to God. We turn towards him, choosing to humble ourselves and receive His goodness. Our depression, our grief, our trials, our pain don’t define us. Those lies disappear when we (re)claim the truth that Jesus took care of that on the cross.
As we pray through this week’s letter, we may sense a need for reconciliation. Or maybe we will read something that prompts our prayers for that person to know their identity in the Lord – who He created them to be. Thank you for choosing to intercede, thank you for listening to the Holy Spirit. He will guide us.
Praying for an increase of joy!
Ericka
from the week of December 8
Praises
- Praise God for Your blessings during this beautiful season.
- Thank You, Lord, for being with me and J each day.
- I was blessed to be a welcomer today and to see so many people coming in with presents for the Giving Tree. We have such a loving church family!
- Thanks God for a relaxing week, allowing me time to catch up!
- Praise the Lord for a safe trip to the beach.
- Praise the Lord for my family.
- Praise God, J is starting to walk again! We want to be back to normal, but we know God is at work and we know He is undefeated – we trust in His timing for J’s full healing.
- Thankful for our church’s prayer team.
- Praise God for a good doctor’s visit – P does not need surgery right now!
- Praise the Lord we were able to bring our granddaughter to church!
- Advent season – a wonderful time of waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus.
- Thank you for praying for my family.
- Jesus loves my daughter G and I have hope she will soon give her life to Him.
- Praise God for grace while my sister went through the long process of nuclear stress test. She was very patient through the long ordeal.
- I am blessed to have the devotional booklet scribed by Janet to start each new day early in the morning .
- Pastor Gregory’s message relates and sticks with me – I am thankful for his teaching.
- God hears our prayers.
- We so appreciate our choir!
- Praising Jesus for a successful trip to Fred Hutch last Wednesday.
- Thankful for the hunger of God's word.
- We are so grateful to have beautiful friends who know Jesus. We are cheered!
- Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee. How great Thou Art. How great Thou art.
- I am so grateful for family who cared for me in their home post-surgery. I am grateful for healing so I can return to my home and continue to heal. Praise God.
Prayers
- Father God, we offer prayers for the families of Mike Sorenson and Don Smith who passed away recently. Bring them comfort as they mourn.
- Healing and no more pain for L, strength for S her husband and caregiver, and hope for both. Lord, hear our prayers.
- Prayers for D in rehab, he is choosing sobriety and is grateful for the support of his parents, friends, and especially for Jesus.
- Healing, direction, and provision for M and A as they navigate this difficult season. We stand together in prayer against depression, poverty, and loneliness. We pray with this family for motivation, renewed hope in Jesus, trust in Father God, a good career, and a Christian mentor. Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers.
- Protection for those affected by the floods across our state; provision for repairs needed after major flood damage.
- My daughter A is struggling with worldly things and giving up things that aren’t good for her. Please pray she is able to find her groove in school, pass classes and find her purpose.
- I pray that prayer warriors will stand up now and pray for our world.
- Pray for our neighbor who has lung cancer and leg cancer. Pray for his family, too.
- May our hearts be filled with Joy and may it come to life through our actions in our daily lives.
- Dear God, may we see others through Your eyes. Will You please give us the right words to share with them.
- Pray peace of Jerusalem.
- Praying for E’s sister D to be ok for Christmas and for her brother and families to get together. Pray, too, for E’s appointment to go well.
- Lord, strengthen and protect the vulnerable. May our government act with wisdom and kindness.
- Pray for L’s brother who had a heart attack and is in hospital.
- G needs an appropriate placement for care following a serious stroke. He lives out of state. Lord, bring his family together.
- Prayers for T.
- Joy and peace for our community.
- Pray for those living in the shadows that they may be safe and without fear.
- Praying for the oppressed people in the world and those who are persecuted for their belief in God.
- Prayers for my cousin S and her two sons R and F. God knows the details.
- Pray for our daughter T as she needs to have extensive surgery and she needs to fix her cpap usage.
- Lifting up T’s family – T, S, T, and E – strength and endurance!
- Healing prayer for T, he is in pain. Lord, we ask for comfort and peace as he waits for surgery on December 18.
- Lord, please be with my daughter K as she prepares for the certification test.
- Pray for P’s brother-in-law who had lower leg amputation. Prayer for P’s sister, too as she cares for her husband.
- Prayer for L, N, and my son M. They need You, Lord! Amen.
- Continued prayer for cousin D and her battle with cancer.
- Strength to overcome daily challenges of lack of energy. Need resolution for chronic insomnia. Pray for my faithful husband as we seek God's will for our lives.
- Pray for L who badly needs a pacemaker, but his body is full of infection. The infections need to be gone before they can give him the pacemaker. Fortunately, he is a man of deep faith; things are currently very uncertain for him and his family. Thanks so much.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH AND CAMP STAFF:
STAFF: (Pastor) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, Grace Johnson, and Christina Cole; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) Dan Barela, John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Linda Camarillo, Alexandria Moran, Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga.
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Richard and Kim Hayland, Mark James, Anneliese Eastridge, David Killings, Taylor Miller, Jeff Sansburn, Elliot Daly, and Kaden Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Mark Baldwin, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Rich Milhorn, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Jeff Scott, and Joel Whitehead.
STAFF: (Pastor) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, Grace Johnson, and Christina Cole; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) Dan Barela, John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Linda Camarillo, Alexandria Moran, Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga.
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Richard and Kim Hayland, Mark James, Anneliese Eastridge, David Killings, Taylor Miller, Jeff Sansburn, Elliot Daly, and Kaden Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Mark Baldwin, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Rich Milhorn, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Jeff Scott, and Joel Whitehead.
1 Corinthians 15.57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”